Welcome to NASA's Global Change Master Directory (GCMD).  The directory now hosts a new look and new search capability.  We hope you will experience improved navigation throughout the site.  For additional details on the new features offered, please see our release announcement.  Please provide your feedback through our comment form.

Our goal is to enable users to locate and obtain access to Earth science data sets and services relevant to global change and Earth science research. The GCMD database holds more than 25,000 descriptions of Earth science data sets and services covering all aspects of Earth and environmental sciences. One can use the search box or select from the available keywords to search for data and services.  We encourage your participation in writing and maintaining the information in our databases.  You will find authoring tools to assist you.  In addition, Subscription services are available to notify you of new entries.  The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) International Directory Network (IDN) Interoperability Forum is available to discuss content and database issues.

Short History of the GCMD

The GCMD began as the prototype NASA Master Directory (NMD) as part of the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center to promote the exchange of scientific data sets (both Earth and space sciences) through the Catalog Interoperability (CI) project.  In the summer of 1987, the CI Working Group (consisting of several U.S. Federal and international agencies) defined the type of information and level of detail that would be contained within the NMD.  The first version of the NMD was released in 1987.  In 1989, the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Data Working Group (DWG) established the CEOS International Directory Network (IDN) to foster the exchange of information among international agencies. In 1990, the Interagency Working Group on Data Management for Global Change (IWGDMGC) adopted the directory as a prototype to facilitate global change research - in response to the challenge by the Earth System Science Committee (ESSC).  Thereafter, the NMD was renamed the Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) for its Earth sciences applications. In 1994, the GCMD became part of the Global Change Data Center within the Earth Sciences Directorate at NASA/GSFC, where it still resides.